His student, Morihiro Saito Sensei, carried on the tradition of executing Aikido techniques identically regardless of whether a weapon was used or not. And he further taught that training with the weapons fostered a precision, power, and keen sense of timing that vastly aided in the learning of empty-handed Aikido.

Saito Sensei made the great contribution of organizing the Founder's weapons training practices into a systematic set of elements that could be preserved and passed on to future generations.

It is important to note that the primary goals of Iwama Style weapons training are not to learn sword fighting or stick fighting for use in combat situations. Rather, the weapons training, both solo and partner practices, are designed to help the student develop a strong sense of timing, spatial awareness, and connection with a partner; to learn to stay in sync with a partner, while the weapon becomes a natural extension of one's own body.

As a certified teacher of Saito Sensei's weapons system, Goto Sensei offers instruction in all of the levels of the Iwama weapons practices. (See Saito Shihan's own list) These include:

Fundamental moves, or Suburi, 7 for bokken and 20 for the jo

Happo Giri, 8-direction strike

The 31 and 13 count jo katas

The 31 jo kata partner practice

The set of 10 jo partner practices, or kumi jo

The set of 5 bokken partner practices, or kumi tachi

The Ki No Musubi no Tachi bokken blending practice

A variety of awase, or blending movement, partner practices with both bokken and jo

A variety of empty-handed sword and jo take-away techniques

(Iwama style) Ken tai Jo, bokken and jo partner practices

The Jo movements are generally based upon the Iwama Style 31 Jo Kata with some of the movements also based upon the usage of the bo, naginata, and the spear.

The first four forms are in the classic “Omote” fashion. That is, harder in attack and defense with larger more dramatic movements. Originally, these forms were formulated to study attack and defense while wearing (Japanese) armor.

The second four forms are in the classic “Ura” or ‘hidden’ form. The movements are smaller, more subtle, and the distance is closer. These forms were formulated to study unarmored attack and defense.

In the practice of these forms, distances are closer and the pace faster. There is more blurring of the roles in attack and defense, rather than having a clearly defined attacker (kogeki) or defender (uke). Most of the footwork requires sure steps and angles, avoiding the step and sliding adjustments students sometimes do.

There is always a rotation of the hips as well as clear movements of the hands and arms. There are always clear cutting and piercing moves at specific targets from both weapons.

The general purpose of these ken tai jo forms is the honing of one’s skills in judging critical distance. With practice, speed and accuracy develop naturally along with increasingly correct body movement and footwork.

Unlike Iwama style weapons training, the close relationship of the body movements in both weapons practice and empty-handed aikido is not emphasized. Additionally, the easy interchange from weapon-in-hand to a throw or disarm is not as apparent in Sugawara’s Ken Tai Jo.

These forms provide an exhilarating and stimulating weapons practice. One that hones our minds and intent to a razor sharpness nearly as keen as that of the ancient samurai swords.